Mao’s Last Dancer

"Before you can fly, you have to be free."

2009 1h 57m EN

👍

6.6

SOLID

★6.6TMDB · 125

DramaRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

At the age of 11, Li was plucked from a poor Chinese village by Madame Mao's cultural delegates and taken to Beijing to study ballet. In 1979, during a cultural exchange to Texas, he falls in love with an American woman. Two years later, he managed to defect and went on to perform as a principal dancer for the Houston Ballet and as a principal artist with the Australian Ballet.

“Before you can fly, you have to be free.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Amazon Prime VideoSubscription

Amazon Prime Video with AdsSubscription

Amazon VideoRent

Apple TV StoreRent

Google Play MoviesRent

Google Play MoviesBuy

YouTubeBuy

Fandango At HomeBuy

Cast

Bruce Greenwood
Ben Stevenson
Kyle MacLachlan
Charles Foster
Joan Chen
Niang
Chi Cao
Li Cunxin - adult
Amanda Schull
Elizabeth Mackey
Wang Shuangbao
Dia
Aden Young
Dilworth
Jack Thompson
Judge Woodrow Seals

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Bruce Beresford
Writers: Jan Sardi
Languages: Mandarin, English
Countries: Australia, China

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 96% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 17 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Mandarin, English.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Australia, China.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Bruce Beresford, shot by Peter James. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Christopher Gordon. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Mark Warner shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Bruce Greenwood and Kyle MacLachlan and Joan Chen carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Bruce Beresford directs. Peter James behind the camera. Christopher Gordon scores. Mark Warner cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Australia, China. Dialogue in Mandarin, English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 96% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released 17 years ago.
3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Mandarin, English.
4International production across 2 countries: Australia, China.
5Directed by Bruce Beresford, shot by Peter James. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Christopher Gordon. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Mark Warner shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Bruce Greenwood and Kyle MacLachlan and Joan Chen carry the top of the cast.
9Marketing tagline: "Before you can fly, you have to be free.".
10IMDB entry: tt1071812 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
11Classified under 9 themes, including "dance", "dancer", "village", "ballet dancer".